DROP IN MEAT PRICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17723, 7 March 1921, Page 6

DROP IN MEAT PRICES.

■ change Operates to-day.

WELLINGTON RATES LOWER.

REDUCTIONS NOT UNIFORM.

EXPLANATION BY BUTCHERS.

The new schedule of retail meat prices comes into force to-day. Reductions varying from id to 2d per lb., have been made on all and steaks. Prices of (nits, such as rump steak, sirloin of beef, legs and loins of mutton, have not been i educed to the same extent as other joints. The reason for this/ as explained by the president of the Auckland Master Butchers' Association, Mr. G. F. Lane, is that the demand for these cuts is insatiable, and altogether out of proportior to that for other cuts./ He states that the experience of butchers is that during the past two years the demand for tile more expensive joints has increased to a remarkable extent notwithstanding the outcry regarding the high tvst of living. Other joints just as palatable, when properly cooked, and of equal food value, are neglected, except by the really economical housewife, and are airiest unsaleable, although in many cases < ffered at prices lower than the wholesiale cost. - Regarding the prices generally, Mr. Lane affirms that the new schedule will barely cover costs and expenses, taking the average low prices for fat stock ruling at last Wednesday's market, and the preppiit values of by-products. He thought those outside the trade! fa-led to recognise that the lower prices ruling for cattle and sheep were caus-ed more by the big drop in value* of byproducts than the decline in the export vplua of meat.

It should easily ho understood that a butcher receiving £3 less for the bide off a bullock, muat either purchase bullocks for £3 less, or advance the retail prices of meat so as to return him £3 more.

The sudden collapse of the values of hides, wool, pelts "and tallow, added, Mr. Lane, had hit the industry very hard, as many firms, in addition to having large quantities .of these products on hand, in transit and awaiting sale in brokers' stores, had also cattle and Isheep bought for forward delivery. Prior to the List two sales the prices ruling for fat stock at Westfield market were higher than was warranted by the returns received from the sale of meal, and the prospective value of the by-products, and butchers wore hoping for a run on lower costs to recoup therr.6elves. However, they had recognised that, in common with other businesses, they had to suffer in the readjustment of values, and had reduced their prices to sorrespond with the lower values of live stock.

The reduction in meat prices in Wellington has evidently been greater than in Auckland. Following are some of the Wellington prices recently published compared with the reduced prices in Aucklandj "the Wellington figures being mentioned first: —Rump steak, lOd —lid ; sirloin beef, 7£d — ; prime ribs, 6^d — 7d ; beef steak. 7d—Bd ; corned round, 7d - -83 : shins. 2d—2d ; leg of mutton, 5£d — 8d; forequarter, 4id— ; loins. 6£d — 8d ; chops, 6*d—3d : veal fillets'; Bd—9d ; veal loins, 6d —7d ; forequarter, 4^d —4d ; cutlets, lOd—lOd. Pork prices in Auckland have been reduced Id a lb. all round. It is stated that no change in thei pi-ice of pork has been announced in Wellington.